Enemy of Women Empowerment Crusader

Every girl, specially a girl of small town has big dreams for post marriage life. This is the time when an Indian girl want to fly with her husband and treasure the memories of togetherness. Such feelings emanates from heart from all girls irrespective of their background, their education, their job etc. In India, every one undergoes in marriage from never reversing process. One should be wise enough to take right decision, as before the ceremony of divine marriage, one may choose any of many possibilities with permutation and combination, but post marriage, one has one option and that is to take life ahead, life with togetherness. With this feeling of togetherness which will transcends all differences and one should treasure the nice memories in the very first a few months. "Whoever taking wrong turn, just after marriage is no less a criminal minded person. He is the enemy of crusader of women empowerment. He must be punished accordingly as he has committed the crime of crushing of innocent desires." Indian society is not based on weak foundation and there are many recourses if someone acts on his whims to dishonour the traits of marriage. As long as a girl desires, he is protected from the social pressure. Once she will loose the doors, all shorts of social pressure will come to correct the things. A smart person should lead happy life not for the sake of himself, but for a girl who grew with small-small dreams. One should offer happiness. If someone think himself smart, strong, then strength lies that he is able to give happiness to his wife and specially newly wed wife. Ones credential is not decided by the ability of one's wife, but his ability to stand in the society for one's wife.

The Kashmir Files

About fifteen years ago, one of my friends from Varanasi who has now become the face of “Qtiyapa” was talking to someone about this crime. He described the event as horrendous where every Kashmiri Pandit women were raped along with mass killing and exodus of Kashmiri Pandits. May be his description was exaggerated, but it was evident that something big had happened there. He has never attended RSS shakha. Even in RSS shakha, this was not the topic of discussion, yet it was discussed about the work of RSS among the common man in remote parts of Kashmir amid threat of life. This movie has become now centre for talk for everyone. There are many who are sponsoring for others so that maximum people may get chance to watch the movie in theatre. I also watched the movie. The movie was revolving around violence, religion, politics, state machinery and the pathetic condition of Kashmiris. But there are two three things which was very appealing for me, though I always believe that unity of community is essential for safety of future generation when you are living with aggressive groups in your neighbourhood. Amid these situations, it was stressed that study is important. Even the child was full of fear, he was encouraged to attend the class and learn things. In college, violence is justified, but this movie also tells that the path of violence is not acceptable. In college, one should focus on study and think how to bring peace keeping the interest if nation ahead.

Patakhe

Children as well as the child inside us always chortled on the sound of bursting crackers during Diwali or on some other occasions like marriage, or winning for Indian teams or for some Indians on the winning of Pakistan and defeat of Indian teams when they are playing against each other. What was their response when India is defeating countries other than Pakistan is invisible as no one notices those behaviours. Will such group of people enjoy and chortled by bursting crackers when India would become world champion without defeating Pakistan. Constitutionally, you are free to enjoy winning of team of any Country. It also seems the development of healthy attitude. Is it acceptable that one should enjoy the winning of a country which is taken as adversary of India. One have to mend their way for the sake of unity of society as well as unity of feelings. If we should think out of box, should we not burst crackers when India is achieving some milestone in science, mathematics, medicines etc. Leaders at all level should think about this way and just come out of syndrome of cricket matches which is converting into sentimental war. Behaviour of people on some occasion like death of soldiers can not be a matter of rejoice for any group as they are just dying for nation sake. In such situation, the deviant behaviour must be dealt with iron and fist.

Ashram

Max Web series Ashram is a big star serial directed by famous director Prakash Jha has become the center of uproar once again. What is the purpose of this serial? Is it for awareness for the society to be aware of fraud Baba? Or this is just a Masala serial marketing by arousing sensation among its viewer. What are the take aways from this serial? While people are watching, a human is just have feeling of hedonism and simultaneously they are developing very distorted picture of Baba. There are exeptions everywhere and the same may be communicated in media to become aware rather than seeding a deep negative senses among the educated classes. There are many great writers who tried to comment and explore the experiment on sex by Gandhiji. While exploring this aspect, they all are trying to read out in between lines that Gandhiji might have failed. Gandhiji was not hiding anything. He did everything without any restrictions. Secondly, what were the result? Many of his followers maintained celibacy throughout of their life. If Gandhiji was not innocent, people would not have followed the path of celibacy. A common man cannot be allowed to execute such experiments. One has to achieve a level before undergoing such experiment. Patriarchal socociety rejected Abha Didi after the death of Gandhiji and so she became a little bit disturbed. But Prabha Di accompanied the great leader of the time Jaya Prakash Narayana and yet maintained celibacy throughout her life. She executed many social work throughout her life. Hindus are blaming cinema that why only Hindus saints are made the character in movies and serials and why not others. Amir Khan Movie PK, almost all were covered, though main focus is on Hindu saints only. So, such sensitive movie/serial should be made in secular way and not as anti-religious way.

Favouritism

What is the way ahead? Some anecdotes: Anda loot in schools: During our JNV days, loot of food items by some powerful seniors was normal phenomena. After some years, I also used to be the part of underlying discussion of loot of food items specially eggs. Initially I used to implore them not to do that, but failing that I also used to loot eggs as much as possible and used to distribute those eggs among our junior colleagues. Once a senior, who was considered don of my school,gave a galon of kerosene oil to hide as he didn't want to distribute among hostelites. After a few days he asked me to give back the oil, I just gave him a smile and told I had already distributed those oils among hostelites. Somehow he used to bear my such actions. It is hard realities that favouritism is mostly related to caste affiliation which is being taken as immediate responsibility without having any prior connection. Because of this, the member of castes at lower strata of Indian demography are losing most because of this favouritism. It is irony that these people also emphatically advocates for so called meritocracy. There are rush of poor and needy people in all castes, but only a few castes in India are privileged to have powerful people sitting on power chairs of all institutions in India.

Medical Camps by Sewa Kunj Ashram during Covid Period

Sewa Samaprpan Sansthan has planned to organize medical camps in all villages of Sonebhadra district through Sewa Kunj Ashram, Chapki as its nodal centre. Details you may see here:

https://sewakunjashram.org/

At the time medical camps on daily basis are organized at different villages. Bhabhani, Kachnarawa and Nagvan blocks are being covered these days. Bhabhani is being coordinated by doctors from local hospitals. Ashram Chikitsa Pramuk Dr. Suman Lal is heading Kachanarvan block and Nagvan block is being taken care by doctors from Varanasi. 

Villagers are avoiding any medical camps etc organized by government with the fear of getting vaccinated. They are also not taking Corona disease seriously. At one hand they are unable to reach Robertsganj Covid Centre and on the other hand they have apprehensions towards Covid and vaccination. But as they are recognizing Ashram team, they come and take medicines. Meanwhile, the team make them aware about the disease and removes apprehensions towards vaccination.

As it might cost to take patients to Robrtsganj about Rs 50000 through private means due to this situation, Ashram is in process of developing Isolation Center at Ashram. District CMO has promised to extend help by sending doctors once or twice a week. Serious patients will be taken to Robertsganj by Ashram ambulances also. 

Come forward and donate. You may please donate directly to bank account. 

Bank account detail for Donation:

Account Detail

Sewa Samarpan Sansthan

Account Number: 010703990890

Branch Code: 1622

State Bank of India, Renukut, Sonbhadra, UP.

Note: You will get tax rebate on donation.

Address for sending cheque:

Anandji

Sewa Kunj Ashram, Chapki

Babhni, Sonebhadra

Uttar Pradesh

231223

Contact Detail

Anandji 9415678112

Budget and NGO Sector

 https://rbalu.com/budget-consultation-with-the-finance-minister-of-india/

Experts commenting on the budget each year use words like ‘pro-corporate’, ‘urban centric’, ‘pro-farmer’ or ‘rural focussed’ based on the allocations made or their own preferences.  Some of the other common expressions that have been used to describe the union budget are words like ‘middle-class friendly’, ‘social sector inclined’,  ‘taxation heavy’, and ‘election year budget’. In a year that is still seeing COVID ravaging the world, one can expect now to see a ‘COVID response’ in the budget. Whether it is increased spending on health care and vaccines, or stimulating the failing economy – the budget is expected to reflect the concerns of the government in managing both the COVID pandemic and its social & economic fallout.   Another possibility is the political need to reflect the concerns of the protesting farmers while keeping in mind the need for additional defence spending considering the growing Chinese threat.

From this perspective, one also hopes that the Prime Minister’s oft repeated vision of making India self-reliant (Atmanirbhar), enabling a $5 trillion economy and making India a scientific superpower are also kept in mind.  Programs like Ayushman Bharat, UDAN, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), Atal Innovation Mission and ‘Make in India’ are just beginning to show encouraging response and need continued support.

Prayas, Ek Nayi Shuruat

People who are associated with employee associations and unions are hot blooded creatures in general. Specially leaders are always in talks and they kept sharing agendas. Whenever they are finding someone acting as his opponent, they start attacking on him bringing even his personal matters. In general, I maintain good relations with all, as I have my own agenda of asking for contributions for some cause. But, I also maintain to speak right things whenever I have to take some stand. Leader of association kept meeting with me and kept sharing lots of things as he knew that I had good hold on my batch-mates and many employees due to my social involvement. Once he started attacking a new employee, who seemed very emphatic and emerged as leader for new employees. Meanwhile he brought his wife who was running the organization were not good as they kept meeting some senior officials who were not in good light. He criticized his social activities. At that time, I immediately opposed him and countered, please do not attack anyone who was involved in social activities. Anyone who are involved in social activities are part of social community and it is my moral ground to defend them till I get enough evidence against them. Many people used to attack Dayanand Mishraji, that he used to personally benefit because of social work. I used to defend them that if you were sure that he was getting personal benefits, then as social activities were open place, you should have involved in that and would have availed benefit.

Anyway Prayas, ek nayi shuruat had caused some harm to me. Under the leadership of training center head, we organized entrepreneurship program for housewives so that they might get some job to use their talents. Meanwhile, these ladies were also made to get associated with some faculty to seek job. Not moving much ahead in that line, they suddenly entered in social activities in very natural ways. There were really adventurous. Anyway they gave presentation to some senior authorities and on their suggestions they started Prayas, ek nayi shuruat. They were unaware of cunningness of some senior officials, who wanted to discredit me from my activities of Prayas. Anyway in locality my name expended as many people started calling me that they had extended help to my Prayas Team for social activities like giving carpet, chairs etc.

Anyway I sensed the cunningness and hence thought of renaming my group activities. After many days of deliberation, we zeroed at NDRS. But that name caused problem to some authorities and hence I again started looking for some friendly name. While teaching children about Vivekananda and his Ramakrishna Mission, I zeroed on Navodaya Mission.

Gangajal to Jamtaara

 Society remains the same only phase changes.

Marathi Manoos syndrome

The fact that half the population of a megapolis like Mumbai or Delhi lives in slums and shanties is well known. All governments make attempts to improve their lives. Within a couple of days of the COVID lockdown, Delhi slum-dwellers received free rations to last six weeks, women got money and pensioners saw a doubling of their deposits. The needy got hot meals twice a day within 48 hours of the lockdown and, ever since, 2 million people (the population of the city of Patna) are being fed daily.

Then why do we see hundreds of migrants on television screens complaining bitterly about staying hungry? Why did the Supreme Court have to advise one ration card for all during the lockdown? Is there a difference between slum dwellers and migrants? Seasonal or permanent? Settled or stranded? To understand this, one has to see the constitutional provisions and policies governing the political economy. The latter endure migrants for economic reasons without amalgamating them under the state’s food safety nets.

According to the Constitution, urban development is the responsibility of municipal governments and the management of migration is one facet of that.

In administering welfare schemes, migrants are not equated with state residents, be it the regulation of minimum wages, housing, and political participation. A World Bank study has referred to “migrant unfriendly policies” that prevail throughout the country. Every state maintains reservation in government jobs and higher education, targets foodgrain distribution and provides social welfare essentially for the state’s own residents. Nurturing migrants is considered suicidal as it upsets the local residents who assert first claim on benefits, the Marathi Manoos syndrome being a case in point. 

While migrants can access hospitals and receive treatment, this has never extended to habitation. On first arrival new migrants just try and get enough room to sleep. Eventually, after years, they might negotiate an address to show continuity of stay, which alone can enable them to get an election card and a ration card. For decades, they have travelled to the cities — a thousand migrants disembark just at Old Delhi railway station every day. Initially, they depend on mama-chacha networks while scouting for work. After years, they fetch the family. Seasonal workers are different, as they often come as a family. Many were left stranded after the lockdown.

Successive chief ministers have treated migrants as “not our problem”. Most migrants would be having ration cards in their home states but these are not transferable. Only when elections are on the horizon are they facilitated in getting a local Pehchan Patra (election card) and a ration card. But until those documents are acquired (or procured), they remain outside the welfare net.

During the COVID pandemic, the media has highlighted a situation no welfare state can afford to turn away from much longer. Turning a Nelson’s eye to the arrival of migrants and letting them rough it out on their own can contribute to unmanageable health hazards putting entire populations at risk. Permitting the vicious cycle of slums and squalor has shown how infection can permeate into dense populations. If COVID has not taught this lesson, nothing will. The states must now start to register every migrant. Only regular head counts will enable a correct measure of the entitlements.

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-lockdown-migrant-labour-movement-coronavirus-6400665/

A key piece of legislation governing inter-state migrants in India is the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979. The Act was enacted to prevent the exploitation of inter-state migrant workmen by contractors, and to ensure fair and decent conditions of employment. The law requires all establishments hiring inter-state migrants to be registered, and contractors who recruit such workmen be licensed. Contractors are obligated to provide details of all workmen to the relevant authority. Migrant workmen are entitled to wages similar to other workmen, displacement allowance, journey allowance, and payment of wages during the period of journey. Contractors are also required to ensure regular payment, non-discrimination, provisioning of suitable accommodation, free medical facilities and protective clothing for the workmen.

The primary reason for this seems to be the onerous compliance requirements set out in the law. It not only requires equal pay for inter-state workmen, but also requires other social protection that would make their employment significantly more expensive than intra-state workmen. This includes the payments of different allowances, and requirements that contractors provide accommodation and healthcare for such workmen. 

Not only does this raise questions about the utility of such well-meaning but impractical laws, it also highlights the lack of state capacity to enforce such provisions. To implement this law alone, government inspectors would not only have to maintain records of inter-state workmen, but also verify whether all the other requirements regarding wages, allowances, accommodation and health care are complied with.

The issues with the law and its non-enforcement are symptomatic of the socialist era, when the mere enactment of a law with aspirational requirements backed by legal coercion was considered adequate for creating good outcomes. This law, and many other labour-welfare legislation never considered issues like compliance costs, government capacity for enforcement, and importantly, counter-productive consequences. For example, the onerous requirements set out in this law incentivise contractors and employers to under-report inter-state workmen rather than to register them.

One of the lessons from this episode is to not let aspirational requirements become a hindrance to the effective protection of the very groups these requirements are designed for. This will require a principled distinction between formalisation and ostensible social-welfare. While the former seeks to make people or activities visible or “legible”, the latter goes a step further. Social-welfare protections are predicated upon formalisation, but non-compliance with onerous social welfare requirements can instead inhibit formalisation. This is not merely because of high compliance costs, but also because the state can barely keep up with the task of ensuring compliance with such requirements, made worse given the disincentives to comply.

This has created a two-tier system – formal and informal. Those in the formal tier — fewer than 10 percent of the workforce — enjoy considerable protections, while those in the informal tier get almost no protections. Since welfare schemes are also predicated on the visibility of those getting the benefits, informal workers, especially in urban areas, fall through cracks in the system. The lack of any welfare net for informal workers in urban areas reflects the consequences of formalisation on paper — while farmers get cash transfers, and labourers in rural areas have MGNREGA, there are hardly any schemes for informal workers in urban areas.

Laws such as the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979 must therefore be rationalised to remove requirements that disincentivise formalisation.

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-lockdown-inter-state-migrant-workmen-act-6400710/

Krishna and Bhishma

Krishna and Bhishm are the iconic personality in Mahabharata. At one place Krishna is considered hero of Mahabharata, Bhishm has also captured great reverence in Indian psyche becuase of Mahabharata. Bhishma has made many sacrifices in his personal life and acted as protector of Dharma and Hastinapur. He even developed special affection with Pandavas. 

On the other hand Krishna grew in rural set up with free mindset and challenging many dogmas adhered by common man in Gokul and eventually he ended up ending the tyranny of Kans by killing him. Later he went along with Pandavas for re-establishment of Dharma with his own interpretation of change. In this way he came in direct conflict with Bhishma and later he became instrumental in killing him. Bhishma has great reverence for him, but because of his own long held belief he was unable to come along with Krishna as he was loyal to Hastinapur.

So Bhishma represent constant while Krishna propagated idea of change.

There is further similarity between Krishna and Bhishma. Both were eighth son of their parents. While in case Krishna, the tyranny Kans killed his brothers, but on the other hand Bhishma's mother Ganga herself killed her sons or better said freed her Vasu from the curse of sage.     

Nand and Panna Dhai

Indian history of common man is full of sacrifice and dedication for big cause. Panna Dhai was a common lady in the palace of Rana ... She may be considered lowest in the human echelon of the palace. Yet a thought of serving nation, dharma was lying inside her heart and when the time come, she offered her own child to die in place of the prince and helped in saving an empire for not allowing a cruel person to capture the kingdom. 

In Mahabharata, the Nand is seldom remembered for her ultimate sacrifice his story of association with Krishna took the dominant place. For the sake of saving God, he offered her own baby to Vasudev, living at her fate for life from the anguish of Cruel King Kans. Here again, Nand was friend of Vasudev and Vasudev was also friend of Kans. Yet they all have behaved in different way because of Dharmas they followed. For the cause of nation Nanda offered his newly born baby when his wife was still not in conscious state. This sense of sacrifice has come because of his enlightenment. 

Devotion amid Poverty

Ideal goal_an old man without Sandle_A common phenomena

Sonebhadra Demography

Distribution of Popultaion around Projects

Shanta Kumar Mission Education in Sonebhadra/Singrauli

         In the realm of darkness, in the midst of poverty, unemployment and surrounding with illiteracy is the area which is Sonebhadra district. In the modern scenario, where for growth and infrastructure government does expenditure for progress and prosperity of our country. In spite of progress and economical growth of our country we can behold that there are a few places which is decline in agriculture. The soil is not so futile that they depend on agriculture. Consequently, both men and women workers move out to work as hand like power sector plants. There has been growing use of contract labour in the industries which we can say employment without fulfilling needs.

        Visualising all the circumstances, problems, and finding the path to come over it, one visionary man takes a stand to transform the situation from worst to good. A man with versatile personality born with vision to change the picture of illiteracy that it can’t make  even a shadow. An IITian and moreover an altruist take an agile revolution of removing illiteracy. His endeavours towards welfare of the society started fructify since from his childhood.

       Taking vision for welfare for the tribal area he joined NTPC, where he germinated the grain of education. He toiled so much to bring persuasion in people to make them understand about value of education. For these poor, tribal communities for underprivileged children, he started NGO’s name Navodaya Mission Trust and Navodaya Development and Research Society. With accompanying with his friends, these NGO’s become the light in the area where people were living in darkness. Where Sun rises daily, but light can’t be seen.

          First he started to teach under the trees with a few children. Subsequently in masses children started to taking benefit by his NGOs.  In the present scenario, where his work has been conducting we can easily see the word of illiteracy is evaporating. Due to his efforts, labourers’ children are passing polytechnic examinations, Navodaya Vidyalaya Entrance Examination and many other Government jobs. His pursuit and thirst for the education for the poor people is really praiseworthy. He is just like sun and giving light in the midst darkness of illiteracy. He makes seed and fertile soil that they received enough sunlight, air, water to grow and that can give fruits.

         Just like potter gives the shape of soil, just like doctor who treat and saves life, he makes vessels of virtue, treats and make them cultivate with culmination of culture and civilization. The girls of these areas were thirst for the knowledge but they were unable to accompany and unable to fulfil their desire only they were wishing to bring change in their dry soul with sunken eyes, and anaemic figures. For his efforts in these areas girls and boys started taking education. Now they are no more begging for the need of their parents. Slowly and slowly they developed the art of living, how to live in hygiene, wearing neat and clean clothes and cultivated cleanliness surrounding with proper sanitation. The child marriage of these areas also decreased due to efforts of him. Child marriage is more common in poor communities. They are marrying their daughters to reduce their economic burden. But now they understood that they had been doing wrong with their daughters. Parents of these underprivileged children are able to understand the value of education. Really, the zeal of Shanta Kumar, who basically belongs to Latraha, a backward village of Darbhanga District of Bihar and went IIT Bombay for studying engineering, to awaken the boys and girls is really praiseworthy.

           He is uplifting downtrodden masses and working far away from media glare. Not only this, he is a truly disciple of Vivekananda. He walks on the direction of him that how reformation in society can be bring by the power of education. Because he knows that socio-economic change can be brought about through education. In the words of Vivekananda, “Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man”. He also manifests and modifies the society with dedication, devotion and determination. Not only this, but he also spreads the value of Gita in human to AHIMSA (no harmfulness) to ARJAWAM (straightforwardness).

         Furthermore he knows that for bring active mind how physical exercise is important. He started extra-curricular activities and Yoga classes for the underprivileged children. For making students feel rejuvenated and energized. For focus and concentration which is important for children. He is lighting the lamp of education and eradicating the darkness of illiteracy.

        But as a citizen it is our duty too we also have to  take a pledge that we tends to grow more and more visions for those who are still living in the darkness.

 (Written by Dr. Richa Smriti, Director, Navodaya Development and Research Society) 

       

एक आईआईटियन की सोनभद्र/सिंगरौली जिले की निस्वार्थ सेवा का परिचय

महान विभूतियों को पढ़ते-पढ़ते बिहार राज्य के दरभंगा जिले के एक सुदूर गॉव लतराहा में एक बालक शांता कुमार राष्ट्र सेवा एवं देश सेवा के स्वप्न देखता हुआ बड़ा होता है।   देश के महान विभूतियों, साधु-संतो एवं भारत के महान संस्कृति की अनुभूति उसके बालमन में ही होने लगी थी। सेवा का माध्यम शिक्षा होगी, ऐसा उसने बचपन में तय कर लिया था। चार दीवारों में बंद माँ की विवशता से सामाजिक ताना-बाना में जकड़ी संभ्रांत महिलाओं का दर्द भी उसने समझा था। जब वह कक्षा तीन में ही था, अपने आस-पास के गरीब बच्चों को घर पर बुलाना और उसे माँ के द्वारा पढ़वाने के माध्यम से उसने शिक्षा के साथ साथ माँ के एकाकीपन को भी तोड़ने का काम किया था। जाति-प्रथा के दंश को उसने समझा था, तब तो तमाम विरोध एवं लांछनाओं के बाद भी उसने गॉव के अछूत बच्चों के साथ खाना खाना, पानी पीना एवं होली खेलना शुरू कर दिया था। जावेद के साथ बैठकर उस बाल उम्र में हिन्दू- मुस्लिम एकता पर विचार भी करना शुरू कर दिया था। समाज में परिवर्तन लाने के लिए उच्च शिक्षा अनिवार्य है, वह पढाई भी मन लगा कर करने लगा. छठी कक्षा में उसका जवाहर नवोदय विद्यालय , दरभंगा में नामांकन हो जाता है, और वह गॉव से शहर चला आता है. धीरे धीरे उस ज्ञात होता है, कि  भारतीय प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान में पढ़ने के बाद छात्र अभियंता बन जाता है और समाज में मान बढ़ता है, जिससे समाज के लिए अच्छे-अच्छे काम किये जा सकते है. उसके अनवरत लगन, मेहनत  एवं ईश्वर की कृपा से उसे देश की सर्वोच्च संस्था आई आई टी बॉम्बे में प्रवेश मिल जाता है. शिक्षा के साथ-साथ सामाजिक कार्य के प्रति भी रूचि भी बढ़ती गयी. इस क्रम में नवोदय विद्यालय के पूर्व छात्रों को इकठ्ठा कर इस विषय पर विचार करना भी शुरू कर देता है.  जिस तरह मन की भावना प्रबल होती जाती है, ईश्वर सेवा के द्वार खोलना प्रारम्भ कर देता है. इसी क्रम में आई आई टी में चल रहे ग्रुप फॉर रूरल एक्टिविटी का साथ मिल जाता है. इस माध्यम से आस-पास के मलिन बस्ती  में जाने, लोगो के दुःख दर्द समझने व उनके बच्चों को शिक्षा देने का अवसर प्राप्त होता है. आई आई टी के भूतपूर्व छात्रों द्वारा संचालित प्रतियोगिता "लाइफ अनलिमिटेड" में प्रथम स्थान प्राप्त होता है और पुरस्कार स्वरुप ४०००० रुपये मिलते हैं. इससे वह केरल के एक छोटे से गॉव के विद्यालय में एक साप्ताहिक कार्यक्रम एवं दरभंगा जिले में एक पुस्तकालय भी खोलते है. 

         सेवा करने की इच्छा प्रबल होती जा रही थी. उसी समय एनटीपीसी में नौकरी लग जाती है और सोनभद्र के शक्ति नगर आ जाता है. यहाँ की गरीबी देखकर यहीं सेवा कार्य करने का मन बना लेता है, और मन में छुपी हुई आकांक्षा, आईएएस की तयारी करने, का परित्याग कर देता है. अपने अभियंता मित्रों को इकठ्ठा कर प्रयास टीम बनता हैं और मजदूरों की बस्ती शिवाजीनगर में गरीब बच्चों के लिए शिक्षा देना प्रारम्भ करता है. लेकिन कुछ ही दिनों में सबका मनोबल टूटने लगता है क्यूंकि बच्चे कुछ भी सीख नहीं पा रहे थे.

       स्वयंप्रेरित सेवा का भाव हो,  सबसे अपनों सा लगाव हो तो परिस्थितियाँ विपरीत होने पर मार्ग छोड़ने के बजाय नया मार्ग ढूंढता है. इसी क्रम में खेल-कूद, योग इत्यादि के माध्यम से बच्चों में अनुशासन एवं सीखने की क्षमता को विकसित करता है और धीरे-धीरे बच्चे सीखने भी लगते हैं. अपने सेवा कार्य को विस्तार देने के लिए एवं मित्रों में सेवा भाव जगाने एवं सुदृढ़ करने हेतु सेवा समर्पण संसथान द्वारा संचालित एवं वनवासी कल्याण आश्रम से सम्बद्ध सेवा कुञ्ज आश्रम, कारीडार चपकी की सामाजिक यात्रा का प्रारम्भ किया।

    अपने कुछ साथियों को प्रेरित कर सभी लोग चार किमी दूर के सबसे अविकसित गॉव जहाँ कोई दूकान भी न था, रक्षा बंधन के दिन गरीब बच्चों को राखी बांधने चला गया. अधनंगे धूल-धूसरित बच्चों को इकठ्ठा कर उन्हें राखी बांधा और खाने के लिए मिठाई दिया। बाउंड्री के उस पार गॉव, जहाँ दिवाली में भी अँधेरा था, वहाँ वह लोगों में विकास के लिए आशा का दीप बनकर आया था. कुछ ही दिनों में सैकड़ों गरीब छात्र पढ़ने आने लगे. अभियन्तागण प्रतिदिन यहाँ आकर बच्चों को पढ़ाने लगे. इस निस्वार्थ कार्य से गॉव के नौजवान भी आगे आये और वे भी बच्चो के विकास के लिए चल रहे सेवा कार्य का हिस्सा  बन गए. यह साल २०१० था और शिक्षा का केंद्र ब्रह्मनिष्ठा आश्रम। धीरे धीरे आसपास के गॉव में शिक्षण कार्य शुरू हो गया. गॉव में जागरूकता आयी. बहुत सारे बच्चे पॉलिटेक्निक की परीक्षा पास किया और  विभिन्न राज्यों में पढ़ने चले गए. सेवा कार्य को अविरल प्रवाहित करने के लिए नवोदय मिशन ट्रस्ट भी बनाया. अब अभिभावकगण भी आशावान हो गए और पढाई पर खर्च करने के लिए तैयार हुए. पूर्व छात्र प्रेरित होकर यहाँ अपना कोचिंग सेण्टर खोलकर शिक्षा दे रहे है.. 

         इन कार्यों के साथ साथ सेवा कुञ्ज आश्रम के मंत्री भी बने. सैकड़ों  अभियंताओं एवं ग्रामीणों को आश्रम ले गए. वनवासी बच्चों की शिक्षा के लिए कम्प्यूटर सेण्टर बनवाया। अब सीबीएसई विद्यालय के लिए विशाल भवन एवं छात्रावास का भी निर्माण हो चूका हैं. अब वह उपाध्यक्ष की भूमिका में आश्रम के कार्यों को निरन्तर बढ़ा रहे हैं. ६५ बच्चे से अब २५० बच्चों की संख्या हो गयीं और इसे ६०० तक की संख्या बढ़ाना है. 

       ग्रामीण लोगो की दशा का वर्णन एवं सुधार हेतु नवोदय डेवलपमेंट एवं रिसर्च सोसाइटी की भी स्थापना किया। मलिन बस्ती गाँधी धाम जहाँ सफाईकर्मी रहते हैं, वहां का विवरण लिखने से वह गंदे पाने की जगह साफ पीनेवाला पानी मिलने लगा है, रोड बन गया, नाले बन गए एवं विद्यालय का भवन भी तैयार हो गया. अब उनको अच्छा घर बने उसके लिए संघर्ष चल रहा है. 

       सुदूर क्षेत्र में रहने से एवं संघर्षशील प्रवृत्ति की वजह से उन्हें मीडिया में कम जगह मिलता है और न कोई अवार्ड ही दिया जाता है, जबकि उनके कई साथियों जिनको उन्हीने काम करना सिखाया अवार्ड से नवाजे जाते रहते है. इससे वह हतोत्साहित नहीं बल्कि वह कहता है, वह ये काम सेवा के लिए चुना था, वह चल रहा है. साथियों का सम्मान भी तो अपना ही सम्मान है. जब नए साथी इस मुहीम से जुड़ते हैं तो वही मिडिया में स्थान के बराबर है. सेवा ही शिव की पूजा है, और इस कार्य में लगे रहे यही आशीर्वाद. किसी दिन सिरसोती की तरह  अन्य गॉव में पुस्तकालय खुले एवं कोचिंग सेण्टर शुरू हो जाये तो वही असली सोनभद्र/सिंगरौली जिले में शिक्षा क्रांति होगी।    

(डॉ ऋचा स्मृति, नवोदय डेवलॅपमेंट एंड रिसर्च सोसायटी)